But Meulensteen is adamant he was not aware of any such arrangement and revealed he had spoken to Jol, since his departure.

He added: "I rang him straightaway. I said to Martin 'Listen, I don't know if this is anything to do with me, but in the time I worked 12 years with Manchester United, and for five or six years with Sir Alex, I had no problem.

"I don't know if it was anything to do with me but it was definitely not something I was anticipating.